Captain's Comments - Arsenal

Before each home game, Eagles skipper Scott Dann previews his side's upcoming match in his programme notes. Here he speaks ahead of the visit of Arsenal.

While the Chelsea win was fantastic for our survival hopes, it was a bittersweet afternoon for myself as it looks as though I’ll miss the next six weeks through injury.

It’s just one of those unfortunate things that happen from time to time. As Diego Costa has taken the shot, I’ve blocked it but his follow through caught me on the leg, and as its gone into the ground my knee twisted. I damaged my medial ligaments, but after the way it felt at the time I’m probably lucky with the outcome.

It is frustrating to pick up an injury now, but it’s not one that you look back on and think that you could have prevented; I was just unlucky. I was only on the field for 10 or 12 minutes and was just getting into the game, so it was an important challenge to make but it came at a cost.

The main thing is that we went on and won the game as we were in a great position at the time. I said beforehand that if we kept playing as we had in the previous three games then we would beat one of the big teams. We always go up against the top clubs as underdogs but that gives you a little bit more determination and shock everyone like we did against Chelsea.

It was disappointing to follow up that magnificent result with a loss at Southampton. The momentum was really good going into the game, and while there are no excuses in terms of why we lost, a lot went into the Chelsea game both mentally and physically and the match last week came so soon after that. We just have to make sure that it’s a one-off; we’ve shown that we can put a run together and if we knuckle down then we can go on another run, starting against Arsenal.

It’s going to be a tough end to the season as we’re not quite where we want to be in the league, but there are still eight games to go and we need some big performances and results between now and the end of the season. Whoever those come against or where, it doesn’t really matter as long as we get them as quickly as possible.

As players, we have noticed the extra effort that the fans have been putting into their support at home recently, and we would like to thank you for it. Everyone in the dressing room knows as soon as they come to the club what Crystal Palace means to the fans, and I think in the last few home games we’ve really needed you on our side to help us get the results.

We all need to stand up and be counted, and as much as the lads have to perform on the pitch, it doesn’t half help when we have that kind of support behind us every week. Hopefully you can once again back us from the stands and help push the boys towards another huge result.

Scott Dann

Don't forget the 88 page matchday programme will be available around the stadium on the day of the match, priced just £3.50, or can be download to your iPad or Android device for just £1.49.